Bedford Playoff Game Preview: A Classic Battle

by Tom Condardo

In this corner, the Immovable Object: The Bedford Buccaneer Defense.

And in this corner, the Irresistible Force: The Lynnfield Pioneer Offense.

Which will prevail?

In seven games, the Buccaneers (6-1) have allowed 37 points, a 5.3 point per game average. Peeling that back further, of the points Bedford has allowed, two have come on a safety, six came in the final quarter against Belmont when the score was 34-7, and another seven were scored in the fourth quarter against Boston Latin when it was 27-0. Even in their 8-7 loss to Concord-Carlisle, the Bucs allowed only a single score.

So in non-blow out situations, the Buccaneer defense has allowed 22 points. Total. In seven games. They have posted two shutouts (you could argue three since the safety came in a 14-2 win over Wayland) and allowed one touchdown in three other games. The only time an opponent has scored more than once was in the Belmont game and the second TD was meaningless.

Which brings us to the Lynnfield offense. The undefeated Pioneers (8-0) have scored 282 points in eight games, a 35.2 points per game average. They have scored 30 or more points in their last seven games and were held to less than 30 only once - by Newburyport in Lynnfield's 21-13 opening day win. Put another way, the Pioneers are averaging almost double the number of points the Buccaneers have allowed all year.

Something's gotta give on Saturday.

There's no question Bedford will be the Pioneers' toughest opponent yet.

"That's the playoffs," said Pioneer head coach Neal Weidman. "They're good. They're really good. We're going to have to play really well."

The Bedford defense is fast, aggressive, and hard-hitting. They came out flying against Newburyport, a fast team in their own right, and took the play to the Clippers early. They love to put on the pressure with lots of blitzing. Quarterback Danny Sullivan will be forced to make some quick decisions, something he has shown the ability to do. But the Bucs will take it to another level.

That style of play does come with some risks for Bedford. Their aggressiveness can be used against them, something that Newburyport was able to do at times last Friday. Also, the Bucs can wear themselves out physically, something that also happened against the Clippers. Bedford had noticeably less energy in the final quarter than they did at the start.

"Newburyport hung in there," said Weidman. "Bedford's a really good team and they were a little bit better than Newburyport (on Friday), but the Newburyport kids played them tough."

One thing to watch is how Bedford reacts to Pioneers' hurry-up offense. We've seen the debilitating effect that's had on many of Lynnfield's opponents. What could make it tougher for the Bucs is that like many of the Pioneer opponents, they are in the shallow end of the depth pool. Most of their players go both ways and they usually play about 18. Voice of the Pioneers Tom Waisnor points out that Lynnfield normally rolls out more than two dozen players. That could make a difference later in the game.

The X factor, and one that hasn't been brought up much, is the Pioneer defense. The Bedford defense

has rightly received widespread praise as one of the strongest in Division Four, but Lynnfield has been nearly as effective on that side of the ball.

The Pioneers have allowed only 60 points in eight games, a 7.5 point per game average. They've also posted three shutouts and have allowed only 26 points in their last six games.

The Bedford offense will surely provide a test led by four year starting tailback Olan Abner. Abner has scored 13 touchdowns this season and has accounted for 82 of the Bucs' 149 points. His running mate is Bobby McDonald, a bruising runner who has four touchdowns. The Bucs are a run heavy offense, and come at you with a variety of formations including the Power I, split back, some wing T, and occasionally the spread.

Quarterback Joey Zampell is at the controls and could be the key to the game. If the Pioneers can contain the Bedford running game, Zampbell may have to come out and throw, similar to what Stoneham did last week. Zampell doesn't throw much, but he does have three TD passes, including one against Newburyport last week. A pitcher on the Bedford baseball team, Zampell likes to shoot long, usually looking for receiver Mike Hayes or Abner coming out of the backfield.

"The quarterback is good," said Weidman. "They didn't throw much but they could if they wanted to."

As I said in my Villager preview yesterday, the Clippers played a much better game than the 20-7 final score would indicate. Two big turnovers that turned into Bedford touchdowns did them in. The Pioneers will have to avoid turnovers and play their best game if they hope to win and move on.

To advance into the Division Four North Finals, the Pioneers are going to have to maintain their composure in what is sure to be an aggressive early onslaught by the Bucs. The question will be whether the Pioneer offense, so productive up to this point, can be effective against the Bedford defense.

"We got on the tough side of the (Division Four North) bracket," Weidman summed up.  "Not that the other side isn't tough but playing Stoneham and Bedford back to back is a tough draw. That's the way it is. We can either complain about it or play. I'd rather be playing Bedford than not."

A Coach's Take
I asked former Pioneer captain and offensive coordinator Pat Sheehan, head coach of Triton, for his take on the game and he had some interesting observations.

"I think it is going to be a very close, tough game for both teams," Sheehan said. "Lynnfield matches up size-wise. I think Bedford's speed in the backfield will be something Lynnfield hasn't seen this year since the Newburyport quarterback so that should be interesting.

"This will be a different game than most of Lynnfield's games this season," he continued. "Teams have had to really change their identities to compete with Lynnfield. They needed to pack the box to take away (captain Kyle) McGah and the run game which is a big reason their pass game has been so effective. On the other side of the ball, Lynnfield's size up front poses huge problems where the teams that they play change their play calling and philosophies to try to win.

"I don't think Bedford or Lynnfield thinks they have to change anything for this one," Sheehan summed up. "I think that both teams will do what they do and the most physical team will win. Should be fun."

Interesting Quirks
A couple of interesting things to look for from Bedford.

Although most of the players on the Bedford sideline don't get into the game, they do get involved by yelling the entire time the opposing team has the ball. They are joined in the serenade by their vocal fan base. We'll see if that has any effect on the Pioneer no-huddle offense.

Also, coming out of any stoppage in play, the Bucs will huddle at the sideline as the play clock ticks down. They they sprint onto the field and do a quick snap to try and catch the defense off guard or out of position.

Old Rivals
Bedford and Lynnfield are no strangers although they haven't met since 1972. The teams met 13 times from 1960 through 1972 as members of the Dual County League and the Pioneers hold an 8-4-1 edge. Lynnfield is 4-2-1 against the Bucs at Pioneer Field.

Game time at Pioneer Field is 11 am.

That's it for now. Check back Saturday after the game.